It was a miracle I didn't rush across the room and take her right then.
She spotted me, taking in my tight black shirt and faded jeans. Her smile rose, then fell; I knew she was wondering if she'd over dressed.
One look around the large event hall, and she'd see it was just me who'd gone casual. This was a party for my company, I could wear whatever the hell I wanted. I wasn't meeting with buyers or big wigs or anything.
Tonight, I was planning to have fun.
“Silver,” she said when I got close. “Wait. Do I call you Keswick in here?”
Grinning, I scooped my arm around her middle. “It's probably better if you do.”
Tucking against me, she eyeballed the milling people. “You're not acting like we're a secret.”
“Because we're not. I want to make it obvious to every man in here that you're already mine.”
“Then what does it matter what I call you?”
Pulling her around so that she was facing me, I was surprised to see her cocky smile. It was contagious. “Fine. Call me Silver, I'll call you Pet, and we can wonder what everyone is thinking about us.”
“Alexis!” The woman who bounced our way was waving her arms frantically. In her yellow dress, her short dark hair made her look like a sunflower. I didn't need to ask her name—I knew this was Laralie.
I'd never claim I was a 'good' person. Lies came easy, especially the ones that kept you safe. Or kept others safe.
I knew everyone that was close to Alexis. I'd made it a point to research them and keep tabs. Early on, I'd justified it as a way to learn more about her... to understand her, and in that process, maybe understand why I'd become infatuated.
That hadn't worked. And so, I began sending her letters.
The dark-haired woman was still smiling, her eyes dancing between Alexis and me. “This place is beautiful!” she said, waving at the hanging lights and the long table of pastel colored snacks. “Am I crazy, or is that cake over there shaped like a giant dildo?”
Alexis patted Laralie on the shoulder, giving her a gentle shove. “No way it's—” Trailing off, she spotted the display for the first time. “What bakery made that thing?”
“They're a small business, but really talented. I've used them before,” I said. Turning towards Laralie, I tucked on my nicest smile. “I'm guessing you're the guest who insisted on meeting me in person.”
Laralie didn't even blush, she just shrugged. “I had to see if you were real.”
Narrowing my eyes, I glanced at Alexis. “I'm very real.”
“I'll say!” Winking, Laralie gave her friend a shove. “Okay, so, rich and hot?” Alexis turned beet red, but Laralie just went on. “You have any look-a-like friends you can hook me up with, Mister Very Real?”
Alexis covered her eyes, but she couldn't hide her smile. “Laralie, please.”
“It's fine,” I said, playing along. Spotting Florian across the room, I waved him over. “Here, this is my partner. He's a genius and painfully available.”
Florian scoffed, acting offended as he joined our group. He was almost my height, a slim man in a pale-grey coat and black slacks. He was clearly handsome enough, because Laralie stopped goofing with Alexis, her demeanor shifting.
In seconds, she went from silly to sultry. That yellow dress caught the lights when she cocked her hip. “Hey,” she said, offering a hand. “I'm Laralie, nice to meet you.”
“Florian, though I guess Keswick already announced that, among other things.” Chuckling, he shook her hand. I expected him to focus on her, but his eyes danced sideways, onto Alexis. “I saw you the other day, I didn't get your name.”
Recognition crossed her face. “Oh, right, you were sitting at a computer.”
“I usually am,” Florian said with a dramatic sigh.
Taking his hand, she squeezed. “I'm Alexis.”
Florian lingered, but from the way he peered at me, I sensed he was wondering what was going on between her and I. Instead of letting him guess, I pointedly slipped my long fingers over Alexis's shoulder, cupping part of her neck possessively.
Under my touch, she shivered deliciously.
Laralie lifted her eyebrows, the first hint of her being uncomfortable. “Uh, so! Florian! Keswick said you were a genius, what do you do?”
“I'm not a genius,” he snorted.
“He is,” I said. “Almost as smart as me.”
Florian clutched his shirt. “Ouch.” His teeth flashed, attention darting to Laralie. “I handle the oh-so-fun world of data. Well, when I'm not picking up the pieces because my partner has run off without any thought about his responsibilities.”
Pulling Alexis closer, I kept my stare on Florian. “I think I know what my responsibility is.”
“Silver,” she mumbled, blushing furiously.
“Silver?” Laralie asked. Florian looked just as unsure.
Alexis rocked side to side. “It's just a nickname.”